Walking: America's Next Medical Breakthrough

"The next big health care breakthrough – which could cut rates of heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer and Alzheimers by at least 40 percent and save Americans $100 billion a year – comes from a place you’d least expect. On your block. At the park. Everywhere," writes Jay Walljasper.

"What’s this amazing treatment, which also happens to be easy, enjoyable and virtually free? It’s as simple as taking a walk."

“'Walking is like medicine for my patients,' says Dr. Bob Sallis, a Kaiser Permanente family practitioner from Fontana, Calif., describing the connection between how much time his patients spend walking and their overall health. 'If walking was a pill or surgical procedure, it would be on 60 Minutes.'”

"The benefits of walking don’t stop at health," adds Walljasper. "More people walking leads to safer hometowns, better student performance in school, a stronger sense of neighborliness, increased economic activity for local businesses and improved social equity among all Americans, notes Tyler Norris, vice president of the large nonprofit health care provider Kaiser Permanente."